A Comparison of Planning Units Based on the Integration of Vegetation Type With Land Type and Elevation Classes for Selection of New Protected Ares

Designing a representative protected areas network has been introduced as an effective strategy for biodiversity conservation around the world. Efficiency of protected areas network, usually measured not only in terms of representativeness for all biodiversity features, but also in terms of minimum area or least increment area. In this paper assuming vegetation types as an appropriate surrogate for overall biodiversity in Kohgiluye & Boir- Ahmad province and applying systematic biodiversity conservation planning, the efficiency of two types of planning units in selection of best protected areas network in terms of representativeness and minimum area have been assessed. Results show that the first kind of planning units which composed of vegetation types and land units integration, include less increment areas (9.59% of the network area taking into account and 7.26% not taking into account existing protected areas) to the network in comparison to other kind of planning units which composed of vegetation types and elevation belts integration (12.50% of the network area taking into account and 7.96% not taking into account existing protected areas).